Freight-car



(No Model.)

I. HjG-ONGDON.

FREIGHT GAR'. No. 315,600. Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

N. PETERS. Phuwmhngnphu. wuhmgm, n. c.

ilnirrnn STATES 'PATENT OFFICE..

ISAAC H. OONGDON, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FEIGHT-CAR.

PEGIFICATION forming part' ofLettei-s Patent No. 315,600, dated .April 14, 1885.`

Application filed February 9, 1885. (No model.)

sand, minerals, &c., are retained while being transported from place to place; and the obj ect of the invention is to provide such an arrangement of braces or supports for the side stakes as to make it possible to use side boards of any required height, and prevent them from spreading outwardly at the top by the increased weight, while at the same time relieving the side sills from all twist land tendency to turn over, and still allowing the use of end-gates. The box is also free from all cross-ties, rods, Src., or any other obstructions which might impair its usefulness in carrying lumber or similar kinds of merchandise.

In the drawings, Figure l is a half side elevation and half longitudinal setionof a car constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, one half showing the finished car and the other half its framing. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line :r x of Fig. l. Fig. 4t is a perspective view showing the under side of one-half of the car.

It is well known that in cars of this class, with side boards as at present stayed, there is a tendency and a liability to cause said boards to be pressed outward at top and to twist and turn over the side sills. The stakes secured to the side sills by iron loops or stake-pockets act as levers with the loop or stake-pocket as a fulcrum, and the long end being four to six or more times the length of the shorter,an immense strain is brought on the lowerend of the stakes and side sills, which soon split,bend, and break the stakes, or if too strong to be broken they indent and sink into the sills. The nuts securing the loops of iron or stake-pockets also partially or wholly embed themselves in the inside of the sills. From these and other causes the stakes soon become separat-ed from the sills at the fulcrum-point and thev stakes lean outwardly. The weakness of this` construction is felt more and more, as the carrying tonnage of cars is now greatly increased without a corresponding'increase in the length and Width of the car-frame. It is therefore necessary to make the side boards much higher, and, as previously explained, this greatly increases the twisting strain on the sills,which ,A

To overcome these to act as movable gates, and the tie-rods are carried across the car from the top-of one stake to the other. This construetionunts the car for use in the transportation of lumber and similar-merchandise.

' In my construction the framing of the car is composed of the side sills, A, center sills, B, and the end sills, O, that unite them, and these,

as well as the tie-planks D and ooring E,are

of the usual construction. i

Upon the flooring E are placed the side boards, F, and end-gates G.

Secured to the side sills, Aby iron staples or loops h are the stakes I and I', supporting the side boards, F, against inward thrust.

Bolted to the under side of the sills of the car are cross-pieces d, similar to the tie-planks D. They are arranged at points transversely in line with the side stakes, I', and the latter, in place of stopping at the lower edge of side sills, as heretofore, are carried down over the ends of the tie-planks D and of the supplementary tie-planks d. In this manner the and liability to turn over under the side roo i side sills are relieved from all twist and strain strain on the stakes is also greatly lessened, as their length above and below the fulcrumpoint is much nearer the same.

From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the supplementary tie-planks d are stopped at the drawtimbers L, and eut out at M for the free rotation ofthe Wheels.

In place of the iron loops or stakepockets, crossbolts of roundA iron, O, are substituted to retain alternate pairs of stakes in position. The cross-bolts are located just above the sills, Vthe under side of the flooring being grooved to receive said bolts. They pass through the stakes at the sides of car, and are secured by nuts and Washers. This arrangement of crossbolts may be used for every stake, and thus still more equalize the strain on the stakes, as

the fulcrum-point is more nearly central.

In cars Where the side sills are very deep it may not be necessary to put in supplementary tie-planks d, but only to extend the center stakes down over the tie-planks D. This arrangement of stake-supports permits the endgates G to be hinged close tothe floor, and be retained in an inclined position by the cleats J, and dispense With endnstakes.

The liability of the side boards to bulge outward, as heretofore braced, made the use of end stakes, and consequently the standing of end-gates perpendicular, almost imperative,

and as it is necessary to remove these stakes When loading cars With lumber, Ste., a great many of them are lost.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy l. The combination of the sills and tieplanks D with the side stakes, I, extending over the-ends of said tie-planks, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the sills, the tieplanks D, and the supplementary tie-planks d,\vith the side stakes extending over the ends of said supplementary tie-planks, substantially'as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the sills and the side stakes With the cross-rods O, passing through said stakes and across all the sills, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the sills, the tie planks D, supplementary tie-planks d, stakes I and I', extending over the ends ofsaidplanks, and the cross-rods O, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' ISAAC II. GONGDON.

Witnesses:

Isaac E. GoNGDoN, WM. J. KNOX. 

